Crosswalk.com aims to offer the most compelling biblically-based content to Christians on their walk with Jesus. Crosswalk.com is your online destination for all areas of Christian Living – faith, family, fun, and community. Each category is further divided into areas important to you and your Christian faith including Bible study, daily devotions, marriage, parenting, movie reviews, music, news, and more.

Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - Feb. 13, 2009

2009Feb 13

COMMENTS

Friday, February 13, 2009

Not Close Enough

When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” . . . But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. —Genesis 19:15, 26

We can see in the case of Lot’s wife that one can be exposed to spiritual things and not necessarily become a believer. As flawed as Lot’s witness was, the Bible does say he was righteous (see 2 Peter 2:7). That means Lot’s wife was exposed to the truth of God. But she did not believe.

The Bible tells us of many people who were exposed to spiritual things but were never personally impacted in any significant way. Gehazi served the great prophet Elisha. He saw some full-blown, radical miracles. But he allowed greed and deception to destroy his life (see 2 Kings 5). Demas was a friend of the apostle Paul, who referred to Demas in his letters as a fellow worker and a friend. But Paul said, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).

Of course, the classic example of a man who was exposed to spiritual things is Judas Iscariot. Here was a person who spent a number of years in the presence of none other than Jesus Christ, God in human form. Judas was exposed to absolute perfection. Yet he did not believe. Ultimately Judas sold out the Lord for 30 silver coins.

And there was Lot’s wife: exposed to God’s power. She saw the angels come to deliver Lot. She witnessed the miracles they performed, and yet she did not believe (see Genesis 19).

There are some people who have made changes in their life. That's good. But they haven't yet made that commitment to Christ.

If that describes you, I commend you for the changes you have made, but don't get so close without going all the way. Lot's wife was close, but she wasn't close enough.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.

SPECIAL OFFER

On Being a Servant of God"I don’t know of a better resource for you to add to your bookshelf than On Being a Servant of God. Written by one of the great communicators in the church, Warren Wiersbe, it is a book that I believe will enrich your life."-Greg Laurie

On Being a Servant of God invites you to listen in on the thirty short “armchair chats” to gain practical and encouraging insights that will increase your desire to serve the Lord for His glory.

You can have your own copy of On Being a Servant of Godin appreciation for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.